Renowned film director-producer Yash Chopra today claimed that the so called nexus between Bollywood and underworld has ''ceased to exist.''

Talking to reporters here he said the alleged nexus whatsoever might have existed in the past but for the last decade or so it ''has ceased to exist''. He said the Bollywood film industry nowadays was neither facing any problem of finance and capital for films nor was there any crisis of talent.

He said film making had already been declared an industry by the government and a number of sources of finance were available to the film makers.

''I do not think that there is any need of opting for black money from anybody, including underworld dons, for investment in films,'' Mr Chopra said.

Similarly, in the age of competition a large number of talented actors and actresses were in the industry and they were not required to seek help from dons for their success, he added.

On a question whether in the past film makers used to seek finance from the underworld dons, Mr Chopra said it might be true but he personally did not have any such information or clue.

On the reported statement by underworld don Abu Salem about huge underworld investment in film industry, Mr Chopra said he had no idea and questioned the credibility of Salem's statement.

On Salem's ex wife's reported statement about links of some prominent actors with underworld dons, Mr Chopra again expressed his ignorance and said he did not have such information.